NEWS ARCHIVE

Pharmacists Mutual Is Here to Help – Before, During, and After a Loss Read More »

The Arkansas Insurance Department issued Bulletin No. 06-2025 in response to the recent severe storms taking place in Baxter, Chicot, Clark, Fulton, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lawrence, Nevada, Phillips, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, White, and Woodruff counties. Please see the links below. The Department has issued a 60-day moratorium on the cancellation and… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual strives to provide peace of mind. If you need our help after the storm passes, rest assured we are here for you. Here is a list of tips to help you prepare for the storm. Read More »

Governor Lee issued Executive Order 105 on September 27, 2024, in response to the severe weather and flooding that has recently affected the state. In response to this order, the State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Tennessee issued Bulletin 2024-03 that was directed to all Tennessee-licensed insurance companies and insurance professionals licensed in other states. Read More »

Looting is often associated with protests and civil unrest events that spiral out of control. Nefarious characters often take advantage of confusion and highly charged settings to rob and damage local storefronts, smashing and grabbing as much merchandise as possible. Read More »

Most business owners are aware of the potential for civil unrest within or near their communities. According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, there have been more than 700 significant antigovernment protests in more than 147 countries worldwide since 2017. While some citizens take to the streets with good intent to protest peacefully, history shows it doesn’t take much for… Read More »

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. When a hurricane is predicted to make landfall near your location, it’s already too late to prepare. Stores will be out of preparedness supplies, and grocery stores will likely have bare shelves. Read More »

Recent studies show that political risk and violence rank as the eighth-largest worry for companies globally in 2024, up from 10th in 2023 and 13th in 2022. This steadily increasing concern is well-placed, as the costs from U.S. riots during the 2020 election year reached $1-$2 billion in insurance claims. Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company has recently released a robust toolkit designed specifically for our members. This toolkit equips businesses with the necessary tools and knowledge to fortify themselves against the potential damage and loss caused by civil unrest and riots, empowering them to face these challenges with confidence. Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual reminds everyone to be vigilant regarding predicted storms, their path, and intensity. Also, be aware that storm surge is considered flooding and not covered unless specific flood coverage/policy is in place. Please take action to protect your property from flooding. Read More »

Hurricane Preparedness Read More »

Hurricane Preparedness Read More »

Conveyor belts were invented in the 1790’s. American groceries began using steel conveyor belts in 1901. By the 1960’s, automated conveyor belts were appearing in grocery stores across the nation. Though a major convenience for staff and customers alike, conveyor belts also pose a number of risks. A study conducted in 2009 by Dr. Zhinong Yan of Moi Belting Systems, Grand Rapids, Michigan found… Read More »

Update – Friday, April 21, 2023 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 today to stay the entire order issued by Judge Kacsmaryk of Texas. This ruling overrules the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ order that partially stayed Kacsmaryk’s order. As a result, mifepristone’s status will remain unchanged until the Fifth Circuit hears the case and makes a ruling on the merits. The hearing is expected to be… Read More »

Update – Thursday, April 20, 2023 – Justice Samuel Alito extended his stay until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 21, 2023. Pharmacists may continue to dispense mifepristone according to previous state and Federal laws until an order is issued or the stay extended again. Read More »

The State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) issued Bulletin No. 23-01 in response to the tornadoes from March 31, 2023, and April 1, 2023. Please see the links below for more information. Read More »

The recent Federal court rulings on the status of mifepristone may leave pharmacists wondering where they stand if they dispense mifepristone. The answer has been changing rapidly and may continue to do so. The answer may also depend on where the pharmacist practices. On April 7, 2023, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a ruling… Read More »

The Arkansas Insurance Department issued Bulletin No. 4-2023 in response to the recent severe storms taking place in Cross, Lonoke, and Pulaski counties. Please see the links below. The Department has issued a 60-day moratorium on the cancellation and non-renewal of personal lines policies for the non-payment of premiums. This shall apply to all personal lines policies issued that cover risks in… Read More »

Ask any healthcare professional why they entered their field; the answer will likely be to help people. You probably will encounter few, if any, that will tell you it was to spend extra time charting. However, this documentation is crucial to the care we provide. There are three aspects when providing services in which accurate documentation is imperative. Read More »

Pharmacy Protests Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably. We stand opposed to any violence and destruction perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns we serve. We know you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation these past years. Knowing that… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably. We stand opposed to any violence and destruction that is perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns that we serve. We know that you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation these past years. It is… Read More »

Tropical Storm Nicole formed this (Monday) morning in the Atlantic Ocean. This storm’s projected path could reach Florida’s east coast by Wednesday evening/night near hurricane strength. Read More »

Tropical Depression Nine currently moving in the Caribbean could approach Florida next week as a major Category 3 hurricane. This storm, soon to be named Hermine, is expected to increase in intensity to hurricane strength as it approaches warmer Gulf water. Read More »

While health care professionals do not commonly face criminal charges for cases of negligence, the following cases show the possibility exists. For example, a nurse in Tennessee was recently convicted of gross neglect of an impaired adult and negligent homicide as a result of a medication error. The nurse intended to withdraw Versed® from a medication cabinet on the floor, but retrieved… Read More »

Malicious attacks on your business can cripple operations. With the recent tensions in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, those crippling effects are closer than you think. At Pharmacists Mutual, we take government warnings seriously and aim to circumvent any malicious attacks upon our members. Federal cybersecurity professionals have issued warnings to American businesses that we should all heed. Read More »

This is a reminder that SB 1159 as signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom remains in effect. Read More »

“Flash Mob” thefts are increasing in frequency at retail locations. Read More »

On Friday, December 10, the IT world discovered a substantial cyber security exploit that impacts nearly every company in the country regardless of size. The technical name is called Apache Log4j. It is essentially a door that is easy to open, allowing the cybercriminal to take full control of your systems. Read More »

What is a REMS? Read More »

November 4, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine. Read More »

Did you know that pharmacies have provided more than 141 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines across the country as of early October? Last year, 48 million flu vaccines were given at pharmacies. As we continue to battle through the pandemic and this year’s flu season, it is important to be vigilant when providing multiple vaccines. There have been reports of mix-ups between COVID-19 vaccines and… Read More »

Case study: A patient presents to the pharmacy for a COVID-19 vaccine. During the intake process, the pharmacist mistakenly pulls the Moderna vaccine for a 16-year-old patient. The error is discovered during the documentation process after the injection was given. What should the pharmacist do? Read More »

Another court ruling involving pharmacists’ duties in the dispensing of opioid prescriptions has been issued. Like the Ohio case referenced in September 2020, the latest ruling involves the idea of Red Flags and pharmacists’ duty to resolve them. Shortly after the Ohio decision, Walmart filed suit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Eastern District of Texas seeking a declaratory… Read More »

Pharmacists Mutual cares very much about the well-being of our members. We support the rights of people to assemble and protest injustice peaceably. We stand opposed to any violence and destruction that is perpetrated by groups in the cities and towns that we serve. We know that you are concerned about the civil unrest that has impacted numerous areas of our nation this past year. It is essential… Read More »

As we move beyond the dark path created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to the prospect of greener pastures afforded through mass vaccinations. While the vaccination will lend itself greater control of the virus, it also presents a series of moral and ethical obligations to business owners of all sizes. There is no one size fits all approach to handling this topic in your workplace. We… Read More »

On Friday, June 5th, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed an omnibus labor bill that includes death benefits for first responders who were presumably infected with COVID-19 while on duty and workers’ compensation benefits for essential workers under certain conditions. Read More »

April 3, 2020 Read More »

Jen Aultman, CPhT, Risk Management Consultant Read More »

Jen Aultman, Risk Management Consultant, CPhT Read More »

With winter behind us, our thoughts turn to spring and summer. Unfortunately, with the change of season, also comes the threat of tornados. As with every threat we face in life, putting it into context helps us decide what to do to prepare for the threat. Read More »

The Illinois Department of Insurance issued Bulletin 2017-03 on July 17, 2017, regarding the flooding that has affected Cook, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties in Illinois. This bulletin was issued to all companies licensed to transact business in Illinois. Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company and The Pharmacists Life Insurance Company are aware of this bulletin, and we are complying with the… Read More »

People often see dentists as professional, caring, ethical and honest individuals. However, there are employees and some dentists out there that can tarnish this image. An emerging issue that is growing is fraud in the dental practice. According to the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, of the $250 billion spent on dental care procedures annually, an estimated $12.5 billion, or 5%, is… Read More »

Do you have cracks in your home’s foundation walls or floor? Cracks in your foundation can allow water to seep in, causing damage to the interior of your home. These cracks can also let in something you can’t even see-. You may have a guest in your house and not even know it. The name of this guest is Radon; a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for… Read More »

Since the CDC declared an epidemic of prescription drug abuse in the United States in 2010, numerous programs and initiatives have been implemented to control access to narcotics. These have included prescription drug monitoring, increased DEA activity, addiction treatment funding, changes in prescription guidelines, drug take back programs, crackdowns on pill mills, and rescheduling of… Read More »

To prevent a back up of your sewer and drain system, it is helpful for property owners to be aware of what might cause a back up, and what preventative measures can be taken. Whether you are purchasing a new home, or have owned your property for several years, it can provide great benefit to have a professional inspect your plumbing system and give feedback. Aging plumbing systems could have pipe… Read More »

Community pharmacists face a growing challenge: They are being asked to fill an increasing number of veterinary prescriptions. This trend is here to stay, and the challenges pharmacists face in filling pet prescriptions will be compounded if the Fairness to Pet Owners Act of 2015 is enacted as law. This Act would require veterinarians to provide a prescription, up front, for pet owners to fill… Read More »

Looking for smart phone apps for Pharmacists? Type “smart phone apps for the pharmacist” in a Google search and you’ll get about 92,000,000 hits. We found it pretty easy to search through and find something for just about every aspect of pharmacy. Everything from drug guides to symptom checkers, apps about vacinations and even popular publications.We contacted two organizations that offered apps… Read More »

No businessowner wants to think about an employee stealing from them. Nor does a businessowner want to think about their vendors stealing from them. Even if we don’t want to think about these things happening, the reality is, it most likely has or will happen. Do you really know what your business insurance covers or what different types of crimes are considered in your coverage package? Read More »

Insurance fraud − in the most simple of terms − is a lie told to steal the financial protections and benefits of insurance. Read More »

Have you ever made mental note of some paperwork you have at home which deserves special treatment and safety? Maybe it is an old love letter your parents exchanged, or a copy of a special photograph. How about your social security card? If any of these things has come to mind, a safe deposit box might be something to consider. Safe deposit boxes can ensure the safety of the item from theft or… Read More »

The winter of 2014 brought with it a significant number claims related to ice dams. With the next winter approaching, we thought it would be helpful to provide some information on ice dams: how they form, strategies to prevent and/or remove them, and tips on protecting your property from resulting leaks. Read More »

Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions across the country. In 2011, over 6 million people aged 12 or older abused prescription drugs, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a government agency that conducts a national survey on related topics each year. The same survey showed that over 50% of people abusing these drugs got them from friends… Read More »

Case: An independent pharmacy filling high-doses of narcotic CNS depressants for a middle-aged man, receives notice of a claim. The patient was found unresponsive by his wife, and pronounced dead at the scene. Toxicology reports indicate supratherapeutic concentrations of hydrocodone, oxycodone, and alprazolam. Additionally, multiple tablets of Oxycontin® are found in the patient’s stomach upon… Read More »

To say we have busy lives is an understatement. Most of us could use more time in our day. We have many things to do and keep track of. Caring for our families and homes are responsibilities most of us take pride in. From major home improvement projects to painting a wall, a little help can go a long way. With numerous items to maintain in a home, a reminder to change the furnace filter on… Read More »

At Pharmacists Mutual, the Risk Management department regularly reviews pharmacy crimes to evaluate ways to help member companies consider security measures in their pharmacies. A burglar often visits a pharmacy before breaking in. The average burglar visits his or her target five times; allowing them to check out motion sensors and other security measures, learn where drugs are stored, and get… Read More »

A recent edition of Pharmacy Today magazine contained an article that talked about pharmacists getting the right drug at the right dose to the right patient at the right time. The article was discussing pharmacogenetics and not dispensing errors. However, the article did remind me how critical it is to deliver the proper medication to the patient. Read More »

The term Active Shooter is fairly new in the lexicon of crime. It became popular in the past decade as a way of quickly describing situations where a person or persons was in the area, armed and intent on doing harm. Over the years, active shooter incidents have included shootings at post offices, schools, offices, factories and public gatherings. Read More »

Each year in the United States there are over 360,000 home fires reported to fire departments. The chance of your household becoming part of these statistics in your lifetime is 1 in 4. If you include fires not reported to the fire department, estimates from the National Fire Prevention Association indicate that each household can expect a fire once every 15 years, or five times in a lifetime.… Read More »

We hear this question on a regular basis. We hear many reasons why a pharmacist or pharmacy owner does not feel it is necessary to have a personal policy. Think about the principle of auto insurance. We know we insure our own car, but sometimes the problem is whether the other driver has insurance. Read More »

Hurricane Matthew, a large category three hurricane heading towards the southeast United States, is expected to bring strong winds, heavy surf, and torrential rain beginning late Thursday or early Friday. Current forecasts are uncertain if a landfall will occur. We are concerned about you and your family’s well-being. Being prepared may be the one thing you can control. Read More »